Medicaid and SNAP have long provided essential support for vulnerable adults. However, a recent proposal in Congress to reduce funding for these programs threatens to undermine equitable access to care for millions of older Americans, many of whom are living with Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.
“So the first impact in many states is likely to be less access to paid care at home if Medicaid funding is cut. This will impact people with limited incomes and people with higher healthcare needs, such as people living with dementia the most. The Medicaid program home and community-based services is how most people get this kind of help. And it’s not actually through Medicare, that’s a common misconception. Medicaid is the program that provides long-term care in our country, but states are not required by federal law to provide these supports at home. So that’s why if federal funding is cut to states and states are having to tighten their budget, they’re going to be looking to programs that they are not required to provide first.”
